OXFORD, Mich. – The mother of the Oxford High School shooter could receive a prison sentence lasting anywhere from a few years to over a decade after being convicted Tuesday of four counts of involuntary manslaughter.
After seven days of witness testimony and nearly two days of deliberations, jurors found Jennifer Crumbley guilty of involuntary manslaughter for her role in the Nov. 30, 2021, shooting that left four children dead and seven people injured. Both Crumbley and her husband were charged with four counts, and are standing trial separately.
By declaring the Oxford shooter’s mother guilty, jurors had to agree that the prosecution proved at least one of two theories: that involuntary manslaughter resulted from Crumbley’s failure to perform a legal duty, or that she committed involuntary manslaughter because she was grossly negligent.
Jurors did not have to agree on which theory, so long as they all believed at least one was proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
Jennifer Crumbley’s sentencing possibilities
The Oxford shooter’s mother is scheduled to be sentenced on April 9 in Oakland County.
For an involuntary manslaughter conviction in Michigan, the punishment is up to 15 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $7,500.
Crumbley was convicted of four counts of involuntary manslaughter. The judge will ultimately decide how to sentence the mother, and the exact sentence is unknown at this time. One thing is known for certain: Sentences for all four counts would have to run concurrently in this case, and cannot run consecutively, according to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office.
This means that if the judge decides to hand down the harshest possible sentence, Jennifer Crumbley would only be sentenced to a maximum of 15 years in prison.
In Michigan, the average sentencing for involuntary manslaughter is about 5-7 years per death, according to research done by Michigan defense law firm Barone.
It is also worth noting that Crumbley has served two years in jail waiting for her trial. The judge could count those two years toward whatever sentence Crumbley is given.
This article has been corrected to note that the maximum sentence possible for Jennifer Crumbley is 15 years, and not 60 years. The legal expertise we were initially provided was incorrect for this case. The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed this fact for us on Feb. 7.
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